Information entry device

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this invention is to solve the problem to be stolen a glance of PIN or password when we enter it using the information entry device: PIN pad etc. The fixed arrangement of keys makes other person recognize PIN we entered by stealing a glance of the movement of our finger and expecting the number from fixed arrangement of keys in spite of not recognizing directly number of keys we pushed.  
     The invention is the information entry device that has 1) entry keys on which the information displayed, 2) information discriminator which identifies the information entered, 3) the base that is circle and rotates on the axis of the center and the entry keys arranged in order and in a circle around the center of the base of this device.  
     This information entry device prevents to be stolen PIN by rotating it without changing the order of key arrangement when we enter PIN. And this invention includes the device which enables functions mentioned above on the touch panel screen monitor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical field of the invention

[0002] This invention is technical field of the information entry device which prevent to be stolen the glance of entering the information just as PIN.

[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art/Current Technology

[0004] Various kind of financial settlement services are provided by using IT (Information Technology) these days. For example, credit card, debit card, and digital wallet using smart card and so on. Information of the card is kept in the magnetic stripe or IC chip of the card. And signature or Password/PIN entry is required for identification of user. And also we can use public phone without coin by entering call card number.

[0005] Thus to use these services, PIN or password entry is required for user identification. Nowadays credit card requires signature. But when smart card is used for credit card from mag-stripe card, it requires PIN entry, too. The arrangement of keys of PIN pad of ATM and so on is fixed as specified in IS09564-1 Annex-F. This specifies Key arrangement of PIN pad as 3 numbers horizontal and 4 lines vertical. The numeric number starts from left of the top line. However this fixed arrangement makes other person recognize PIN we entered by stealing a glance of the movement of our finger and expecting the number from fixed arrangement of keys in spite of not recognizing the number of keys we entered.

[0006] There is some device in order to solve this problem, which makes arrangement of keys change random on the touch panel screen monitor when we enter password. But this device which changes the arrangement of keys random on the monitor screen is difficult to use, as the order of key is random. This random arrangement of keys leads miss-pushing the key and it takes a lot of time to push. And it is very big problem for this device that a visually handicapped person cannot use this. In addition this monitor screen is expensive.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] 1. The purpose of the invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to prevent to be stolen PIN we entered by the movement of our finger and the fixed arrangement of the key. And it is to make pushing the keys easy for user and visually handicapped person without changing the arrangement of the key.

[0009] 2. The method to solve the problem

[0010] The invention is made to achieve the purpose as mentioned above. The invention is the information entry device that has entry keys on which the information displayed and information discriminator that identify the information entered. The base of this information entry device is circle and rotates on the axis of the center. The entry keys are arranged in order and in a circle around the center of the base of this device.

[0011] As above mentioned, the user can rotate the information entry device of this invention before and after entering PIN. To change the location of keys prevent to be stolen PIN by the movement of our finger. And the keys are arranged in a circle and in order. So it is easy for user and handicapped person to push the key after rotating this device as keys is not arranged random.

[0012] It is desirable for the discriminator of this device as mentioned above to have the method of identifying the key on the basic point of the device and the method of calculating the relative location between the keys on the basic point and the information of the key selected. In this case, it is also desirable for the each entry key of this device to have a discrimination tag. And the discriminator of this device as mentioned above identifies the information of the key on the basic point of the device by using the discrimination tag of the key. And also it is desirable for each entry keys to be attached the unique reflectors coding by the binary system on the backside of them as the information tag. The discriminator as mentioned above has the sensor, which identify the information of the key by using this information tag.

[0013] Regarding the entry key of this device as mentioned above, it is desirable for information of the key to be displayed by unevenness on it. To display the information of the key by unevenness on it enables visually handicapped person recognize it by touch. So they can enter PIN without someone's help. A Braille or numeric number or character is displayed by unevenness on the key as the information of the key.

[0014] The information entry device of this invention in the device with touch panel monitor screen. The touch panel monitor screen of this device displays the entry keys as mentioned above. These keys are arranged in order and in a circle around the center on the monitor screen. And these keys rotate on the axis of the center without changing the order.

[0015] As above mentioned, the user can rotate the entry keys on the monitor screen before and after entering PIN. To change the location of keys prevent to be stolen PIN by the movement of our finger. And the keys are arranged in a circle and in order. So it is easy for user and handicapped person to push the key after rotating this device as keys is not arranged random.

[0016] 3. Efficiency of the invention

[0017] As above mentioned, the user can rotate the information entry device of this invention before and after entering PIN. To change the location of keys prevent to be stolen PIN by the movement of our finger. And the keys are arranged in a circle and in order. So it is easy for user and handicapped person to push the key after rotating this device as keys is not arranged random. Accordingly this invention provides the safe and easy information entry device for the user to prevent PIN stealing and miss pushing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEW OF THE DRAWING

[0018]FIG. 1: The perspective view of the first sample device: public phone adapting the information entry device of this invention.

[0019]FIG. 2: The front view of the first sample of the information entry device

[0020]FIG. 3: The cross sectional view on the line: A-A of FIG. 2.

[0021]FIG. 4: The backside view of the base of the information entry device.

[0022]FIG. 5: The matrix of information of the key with information tag.

[0023]FIG. 6: The cross sectional view on the line: B-B of FIG. 3.

[0024]FIG. 7: The overview of the second sample: the touch panel screen of ATM adapting the information entry device of this invention.

[0025]FIG. 8: The PIN entry screen of ATM adopting this information entry device.

[0026]FIG. 9: The flowchart of how this information entry device works.

[0027]FIG. 10: The operation screen of ATM adapting the first sample of this information entry device.

[0028]FIG. 11: The front view of the first sample adapting the information entry device on ATM.

[0029]FIG. 12: The PIN pad of POS terminal adapting the first sample of this information entry device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Following explanation is the first example of adapting the information entry device of this invention. FIG. 1 is the perspective view of public phone on which this device is adapted. The information entry device of this invention: 12 is attached on the body of public phone: 10.

[0031]FIG. 2 is the expanded view from front side of information entry device: 12 of this invention. FIG. 3 is the cross sectional view on the line: A-A. The circle button of “Enter/Clear”: 18 is attached at the information entry device: 12 on the body of public phone: 10. The groove: 20 just as donuts is shaped around the center button: 18 as FIG. 3 shows. Each keys: 30 has the button: 34, 36, 38 which sends the electronic signal when the button is pushed.

[0032] The information entry device: 12 has entry keys: 30 and the base of entry keys: 32. The base of entry keys: 32 is shaped as donuts and attached in order to rotate around the center button: 18 in the groove: 20. The base of entry keys is fixed in the body of public phone: 10 using the groove made by protuberances: 32 a, 44. Twelve entry keys: 30 arranged in circle of the base of entry keys: 32. The information; 0-9, # and * is displayed on the each entry keys: 30 by unevenness: 30 a in order to enable visually handicapped person recognize the information on the key by touch.

[0033] Knobs: 32 d are attached around the edge base of keys: 32 to enable user to rotate the base of entry keys easily. As FIG. 4 and 5 shows, the discrimination tag for information: 42, which is the unique reflectors coding by the binary system is attached on the base of entry keys: 32 at the same location of entry keys: 30. The information tag: 42 is consisted by combination of four reflectors/non-reflectors coding by binary system. For example, as FIG. 5 shows, the case; the most right is reflector and the others are non-reflectors means “1”.

[0034] As FIG. 3 and 4 shows, protuberances: 44 are made between each entry keys: 30 on the backside of the base of entry keys: 32 around the circular cylinder: 32 a. The protuberance: 45 which meshes between protuberances: 44 of the base of keys, is attached on the body of the public phone: 10 in order to stop the rotation at the right point where button of keys works.

[0035] As FIG. 6 shows, the sensor: 46 is attached at the basic point of the key on the base of the groove: 20 of the body of public phone: 10. The sensor consists of four pairs of the optical sensor: 50 and light-emitting diode (LED): 48. This sensor: 46 is connected to control unit: 52.

[0036] How this information entry device work when the user enter his four digit PIN is as follows. At first the user rotates the base of entry device: 12 using the knob: 30 b at random. The rotation will stop at some right position by protuberances: 44, 45 in order to the make the button of key: 34, 36, 38 work. Then the user pushes the entry key. The button sends an electronic signal to the control unit and control unit recognizes what location user chose. Then the control unit: 52 receives the information of key on the basic point from the sensor: 46. The control unit recognizes the information on the entry key that the user pushed by calculating the relative distance of the basic point and key pushed.

[0037] When the information of the key on the basic point is “1” and the key pushed is the second right of basic point, the control unit: 52 recognizes that the information of the key pushed is “3”. (This is the case that the information of key on the basic point: position a FIG. 6 and the key on the position c is pushed in FIG. 6). The user finishes entering his 4 digit PIN by repeating this three times.

[0038] Next explanation is the second sample of adapting the information entry device of this invention. FIG. 7 is the overview of the touch panel screen of ATM. This device has the touch panel: 60 and Central Processing Unit (CPU): 62. CPU: 62 recognizes the location touched on the touch screen monitor and controls the display on the touch screen monitor.

[0039] CPU: 62 controls the touch screen monitor to display entry keys: 66, “Enter” button: 68, “Correct” button: 70, “Cancel” button: 72, and “Scramble” button: 74 on the screen. Each key: 66 of twelve keys has the unique information from 0 to 9, # and *. These keys are arranged in order and in circle. When the user touches “Scramble” button, these entry keys: 66 rotate in order and stop at random. After the rotation of keys, CPU: 62 recognizes the information by memorizing the how many keys rotate from the first.

[0040] How this information entry device works in the second sample is as follows. FIG. 8 is the PIN entry screen of ATM adopting this information entry device. At first the user inserts the card to ATM and selects this PIN entry screen. Then the screen monitor displays entry keys: 66 in order and in circle.

[0041] When the user touches “Scramble” button: 74 on the screen monitor, CPU: 62 generates a random number (S102, S103) and makes keys on the screen rotate this random number of keys (S104). And CPU memorizes how many keys rotate from the first (S105) and displays the information of keys again (S106). In the case that the user does not touch “Scramble” button, the user goes to PIN entry step (S107).

[0042] The user enters the PIN touching the entry key: 66 displayed on the touch screen monitor: 60. Then CPU: 62 recognizes the information of the key touched by matching the location where user touched and information of keys displayed (S107). When the user pushes “Enter” button: 68 after pushing four keys (S108), CPU: 62 finishes the PIN entry processing.

[0043] In other hand, the user can enter his PIN without pushing “Scramble” button: 74. (S102, S18) And in this information entry device the user enters PIN pushing “Scramble” button: 74 after entering one number of PIN.

[0044] As above mentioned, the user can rotate the information entry device of this invention before and after entering PIN. To change the location of keys prevent to be stolen PIN by the movement of our finger. And the keys are arranged in a circle and in order. So it is easy for user and handicapped person to push the key after rotating this device as keys is not arranged random. Accordingly this invention provides the safe and easy information entry device for the user to prevent PIN stealing and miss pushing.

[0045] The first sample of this invention can be adopted on ATM and POS terminal. And the second sample of this invention can be adopted on PIN pad of multimedia terminal for various services, which require PIN or password entry. 

1 Information entry device that has entry keys on which the information displayed and information discriminator that identify the information entered. The base of this information entry device is circle and rotates on the axis of the center. The entry keys are arranged in order and in a circle around the center of the base of this device. 2 The information entry device described at claim
 1. The discriminator of this device has the method of identifying the key on the basic point of the device and the method of calculating the relative location between the keys on the basic point and the information of the key selected. 3 The Information entry device described at claim
 2. The each entry key of this device has a discrimination tag. And the discriminator of this device as mentioned above identifies the information of the key on the basic point of the device by using the discrimination tag of the key. 4 The information entry device described at claim
 3. The unique reflectors coding by the binary system are attached on the backside of each entry keys as the information tag. The discriminator as mentioned above has the optical sensor, which identify the information of the key by using this information tag. 5 The information entry device described at claim 1 or
 4. The information of the entry key as mentioned above is displayed by unevenness on it. 6 The information entry device with touch panel monitor screen. The touch panel monitor screen of this device displays the entry keys as mentioned above. These keys are arranged in order and in a circle around the center on the monitor screen. And these keys rotate on the axis of the center without changing the order. 7 The information entry device described at claim
 6. The entry keys on the touch panel screen monitor rotate on the axis of the center without changing the order when the user pushes the fixed point on the touch panel screen monitor. 